Method for rescuing the crews of submarine boats



Jan. 12, 1932. A GENOVA 1,841,178

METHOD FOR RESCUING THE CREWS OF SUBMARINE BOATS Filed D80. 27, 1930 I INV EN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 12, 1932 UNITED S ATES ARTURO Gr'nvovA, or MADRID, SPAIN METHOD FOR nnscumernn CREWS or sUBMARiNE'BoA'rsf Applicationfiled December 2?, 1930, Serial no; :5o5,170,",ii i instaianece tei 27, 1929.-

The object of the present invention is to make it possible to bring crews shut up'in a submarine boat to the surfaceof the sea. By means of the invention it is possible to rescue the crews in an enclosed manner from the greatest depths to which the boat can sink without collapsing. In any case, it is not necessary to employ divers, and the sub mergedmen are not subjected to the pressure or temperature of the water. Moreover, no subsequent medical treatment of any kind is required, while blood clots, colds, etc. are avoided. The military or naval faculty of the ship is not affected detrimentally in any way. The invention can be fitted to the greater part of existing ships. Frequent life saving practice can be carried out without danger to the safety of the ship or of its personnel. Its installation on board permits all the individual respiratory appliances to be dispensed with, which appliances areoI" doubtful practical usewhen it is necessary to abandon the ship even in shallow water. The only auxiliary external assistance necessary is a ship of any kind which does not carry any special means. whatever. weight of the installation formingthe subject of this inventionis compensated for by the removal of the individual life saving appliances menticnedabove, and-of the telephone buoys at presentemployed which also become unnecessary.

Fig. '1 is an elevation of a submarine equipped with the life saving device.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view ofthesluice chamber containing a buoy.

In general terms, the system consists in fitting a dismountable sluice chamber to the hatchway; a sluice adapted to receive an elevator or buoy which is attached to the submarine by a cable and travels to the surface containing a man each time, until the boat has been completely cleared.

Sluice.Formed by two sheets of metal plate generally of semi-circular section, with a fluid tight joint, the mutual joint being reinforced if necessary by hoops or straps. It may also be formed by joining together one or more hoops or collars also made of metal plate, and coupled together also with fluid The tight joints. The joints of; one or the, other method of making the sluice or the like depends upon the shape and dimensions. of the space available for storing it in the submarine. r 5 7 At the'up'p'er part of the sluice isf ormed an opening. which can be closed by means of a fluid tight autoclave door in order to per mit the entry of a man.- At the base is provided an emptying valve and-'stufling boxes. 0 for the passage of a cable. At its middle portion is provided one-or more test cocks, glass windows, manometer and a valve communicati ng with the hydraulic system, which will be mentioned "hereinafter; The structure of the sluice will conform to that of the submarine so that it can resist the same maximumpressure-as the latter; i

EZeoat0r.'This is a metal container having the shape of a cylindrical projectile with a lower ogival extension :with the object of facilitating its entry into the sluice when a pulis exerted on'the cable secured to this en.. This upper base is formed by fluid tight cover or closure which can be operated both from inside'and outside the elevator. The dimensionsof the elevator will'be those necessary toreceive aman of normal size. Externally it will have a diameter some ems. less so than the insideof the sluice. It will be provided with an external attachment ring bolt with air valves and any accessory devices for giving signals, such as cartridges of calcium, phosphate, steam boats? (Spanish botes de humos), rockets,etc. Its structureis such. that .it can resist the external pressure corresponding to the maximum depth at which the submarine may lie, but it nevertheless pos- I sesses suflicient buoyancy orrising force to enable it to float when loaded with a man.

Gable, hand wheel and sufing b0wes.1 Cable of superflexible steel with telephone core.v The latter will serve. as conductor in i order to make spoken communication possible between the interior of the elevator and the submarine. The operation of 1 covering for spinning the cable will be made by means of a small hand wheel also mountedinsidethe boat with no further special provision than 1110 a simple device for the electrical connections of the telephone. The stufiing box for the passage of the cable differs from those in current use by the feature that it is formed by two bodies rotatable the internal one on account of the sliding movement of the cable itself throughitsdue to thehelical form .of its rit s h zl enema net b 7 absolutely fluid tight, is made means of two portions of plastic material one of which is placed between the cable and the movable part and the other between the latter and the fixed part.

' gmlpment of the hatchwayr lt will be necessary to modify slightly the method of closureef the .hat chway mounted initially on the submarine. Primarily, the cover will be balanced by ineansof 'cou-nterweights. v

Between the superstructure layer and-the resisting shell will be mounted a small cylinder having its piston connected with the cover of thelhatchway by an existing pivotal system formed by piston rod and connecting bar.

By connecting the dead spaces alternatively with the sea and with the atmosphere inside the submarine, the piston will be moved one way or the other, thus lifting or closing the coverof the hatchway. The same result will obtained with the-local bilge pump with the addition of a certain number of valves .in the availablehatchwaysthe sheets or hoops described above inorder to form a sluice, and they will naturally leave the elevator within the sluice. The first man enter and will close the cover after him. After having also closedthe autoclave door of the slu ce, the

'' latter will be flooded :by manipulating suitable valves;

When it has been filled and its pressure equals that/of the sea, the hatchwav will be Y opened by any of'the three means mentioned inthelpreviousparagraph. Upon lifting the cover, the cable will unwind so'that the'elevator, on account of its buoyancy, will rise to v the surface.

has been closed and the fastening replaced,

those down below will have to wind up the cable so asto make the elevator return to the sluice. '4

By the reverse operation of valves, the

"hatchway' will be closed and the sluice emptied in order to permit .a second man to enter, after which the same operations described above will be repeated with this secondman V in the elevator. The lattercan thus also be rescued.

'When the elevator returns for the last time, the last man will cut the cable near the stuffin-g box. I

After having arranged the suitable system of valves, he will enter the sluice, close its door and when necessary will open-a last slow flooding valve, the hand wheel of which will be provided within the sluice in the false hatchway. After communicating with the hydraulic arrangement of its cover, he will enclose himself with tranquility in the elevator with the certainty that a few minutes time the chamber containing him will float from the sluice until it presses against the cover .ef the hatchway and will thus assist the action of the piston which will then raise the cover, after which the elevator will rise rapidly to the surface where it will be seen. v

What I claim is: 7

V A-device for escape from submarines comprising a chamber arranged within the submarine craft and composed of two semi-cylim "him drical parts adapted to be separated to afford accessto the chamber, a movable closure for the top of the chamber, a buoyant occupantreceiving member located in said chamber a cable carried bythe buoyant member and extending through the wall of said chamber,

and means for actuating said chamber.

In testimony whereof 'I' have signed in name to this specification.

. ARTURO GENOVA.

Upon reaching the surface, if the state of I the sea permits it, the occupant will open the -cover and by means ofthe signals, lights,

rockets or flares with which he is provided,

he will attract the attention of the nearest ship. If the state of the sea is such as to make the elevator liable to be flooded, its occupant can remain enclosed in the latter 7 untilhe is seen, without running the risk of r sufiocation; for this purpose the elevator is 

